Shufflemaster and Paddy Power Move Through Nevada Gaming Control Process

Shufflemaster and Paddy Power are both a step closer to holding a Nevada gaming license after receiving positive nods from gaming commissioners. The final word on their applications will be delivered at the July 26 meeting of the full Nevada Gaming Commission.

If these two companies are approved for gaming licenses, players can expect the Nevada gambling market to heat up considerably. (That’s no small feat in a city where the mercury regularly tops the 110 degree mark.)

Shufflemaster Going Online

Last week the Gaming Control Commission unanimously approved Shufflemasters’ application for a coveted online gaming license. (The Control Commission is the last step before the final decision from the actual Gaming Commission.)

Shufflemaster is best known for its automatic card shuffling machines and is expected to partner up with a land-based casino for online gaming operations. Which company they’ll wind up working with is anybody’s guess after their deal to acquire the OnGame Network from Bwin fell apart recently.

Shufflemaster is set to become the third company to receive a license to operate intrastate poker in Nevada. The other two companies that have already been approved, Bally Technologies and IGT, are also game manufacturing companies rather than casinos.

Last week Gaming Control regulators also issued a finding of suitability in the case of Irish sports betting giant Paddy Power. A finding of suitability is basically a decision confirming that the company in question is even eligible to receive a gaming license at all.

Paddy Power is in a unique position with regulators because the company does not own any casinos or licensed businesses in Nevada. Despite this obstacle, Gaming Control is allowing Paddy Power to go through the licensing process.

It’s safe to say that Paddy Power’s strong standing as a publicly traded company in the UK and partnership with the British Columbia Lottery helped the company’s case. Regulators also cited the fact that Paddy Power is debt free and would pose less of a risk to players and vendors.

Racing to Online Poker

Gambling industry watchers can expect the number of Nevada gaming license applicants to pile up over the next few months as the race to bring legal online poker to the Silver State continues. So far no big names have been denied a license, but anything can happen during the notoriously grueling application process.